Rama Releases the Demon Spies Shuka and Sarana: Folio from the Siege of Lanka series
Attributed to Manaku Indian
Not on view
On the eve of the great battle, Ravana sends two demon spies to assess the strength of the monkey and bear armies, but they are soon discovered. In the lower right, Rama, in line with the moralistic tone of the Ramayana, treats the spies as unarmed envoys and sets them free. Delighted at this reprieve, the demons are seen to the left entering the fortress and again at the top, reporting to the red clad Ravana about the strength of Rama’s invincible army. This is one of the few pages in this series to be fully finished by the artist Manaku. The juxtaposition of the golden palace with the encampment of monkey and bear warriors contrasts flat planes of color, characteristic of earlier Basohli styles, with more naturalistic elements, which were becoming Manaku’s trademark.
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